Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Christmas Tree?
Please tell me that I'm not the only person in blogland who still has these type of decorations out...
...and a space like this where the Christmas tree should be...
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Tasty Tuesday
It's been a while since I did a Tasty Tuesday post, and tonight's as good as any, right?!
Today I made these yummy things...
Sorry I don't have a pic of them in a pretty bowl looking all fancy, but they still taste the same!
I have no idea what you'd call these in the US. My Mum and I made them all the time in NZ and she called them truffles. But here I have a feeling you'd call them rum balls, except I don't add rum!
They are great for get-togethers, or even for a special treat in the kids' lunchboxes. Plus they are so easy to make that my 8 year old helped me today.
This is how I make them...
Using a rolling pin, I crush up a box of graham crackers and put them in a large bowl. I then add 1.5 sticks of melted butter, 2 TBL of cocoa, a splash of vanilla, and half a can of condensed milk (give or take). I mix it all up (it should be quite sticky), roll teaspoonfulls into balls, then roll in coconut. Done and dusted. How easy is that?! You can also add things like mini marshmallows, raisins, choc chips etc. Sometimes instead of making the mix into balls, we would spread it into a dish and put chocolate frosting on top. That is what we called fudge, then I came to the US and found out that what is called fudge here is quite different! Whatever you call this mix of mine, it's delicious!
Today I made these yummy things...
I have no idea what you'd call these in the US. My Mum and I made them all the time in NZ and she called them truffles. But here I have a feeling you'd call them rum balls, except I don't add rum!
They are great for get-togethers, or even for a special treat in the kids' lunchboxes. Plus they are so easy to make that my 8 year old helped me today.
This is how I make them...
Using a rolling pin, I crush up a box of graham crackers and put them in a large bowl. I then add 1.5 sticks of melted butter, 2 TBL of cocoa, a splash of vanilla, and half a can of condensed milk (give or take). I mix it all up (it should be quite sticky), roll teaspoonfulls into balls, then roll in coconut. Done and dusted. How easy is that?! You can also add things like mini marshmallows, raisins, choc chips etc. Sometimes instead of making the mix into balls, we would spread it into a dish and put chocolate frosting on top. That is what we called fudge, then I came to the US and found out that what is called fudge here is quite different! Whatever you call this mix of mine, it's delicious!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Diapers
Today I bought diapers. NO I am NOT pregnant! Read on...I'm about to make a short story long...
Tonight a bunch of people from our church were invited to a friend's place for a pot luck dinner/get together. However this wasn't just to have dinner - the real purpose was to donate supplies for a local homeless shelter for families. There was a list provided of things they needed and we piled our presents under the Christmas tree and they will be delivered to the Anne Marie House.
(I know - bad photo - taken with my phone!)
It was a fun night with friends, and served a great purpose. Best of all it was a great learning experience for my kids. We talked at length about why we were doing it, and why the items were needed. They were so sad to realize that there are families with kids their age in such need. We had bought a big box of diapers to donate - I had a specific reason for choosing diapers.
I remember my first year in the US, I saw more homeless people on the streets of Salt Lake City than I had ever seen in my life in NZ. In fact, I believe I saw more homeless people in just one DAY than I had seen in my entire life. Sadly, I became accustomed to seeing the homeless men and women on the streets, then one night we were driving past a homeless shelter and in the line waiting to get in, I saw a young mother holding a baby. I burst into tears - I had a new baby myself, my first, and though we weren't wealthy, we were always able to afford diapers. It had never occurred to me that babies were in homeless shelters. And that is the long version as to why I bought diapers today.
Tonight a bunch of people from our church were invited to a friend's place for a pot luck dinner/get together. However this wasn't just to have dinner - the real purpose was to donate supplies for a local homeless shelter for families. There was a list provided of things they needed and we piled our presents under the Christmas tree and they will be delivered to the Anne Marie House.
It was a fun night with friends, and served a great purpose. Best of all it was a great learning experience for my kids. We talked at length about why we were doing it, and why the items were needed. They were so sad to realize that there are families with kids their age in such need. We had bought a big box of diapers to donate - I had a specific reason for choosing diapers.
I remember my first year in the US, I saw more homeless people on the streets of Salt Lake City than I had ever seen in my life in NZ. In fact, I believe I saw more homeless people in just one DAY than I had seen in my entire life. Sadly, I became accustomed to seeing the homeless men and women on the streets, then one night we were driving past a homeless shelter and in the line waiting to get in, I saw a young mother holding a baby. I burst into tears - I had a new baby myself, my first, and though we weren't wealthy, we were always able to afford diapers. It had never occurred to me that babies were in homeless shelters. And that is the long version as to why I bought diapers today.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Seen-It-Sunday
Time for another Seen It Sunday post, where I show you things I've seen in blogland this week that struck me as particularly clever, amazing, inventive, revolutionary...you get the point!
First up, something crafty - a button bowl. How cool is this?...
You could use a balloon and white glue. We're all crafters of some sort here - most of us probably have buttons, right? Might even be fun to do with kids! Original post HERE.
Next up, something yummy...you can make it for Christmas...toffee!
I'm not a fan of hard candy - I don't like it getting stuck in your teeth and I always avoided it until a friend here in NH gave us some she had made for Christmas about 5 years ago. Hi Tami!!! Oh my goodness it was sooooo good! I have been a fan of homemade toffee ever since. THIS RECIPE looks delicious and best of all, easy!
I have one more thing to show you. My hubby has been wanting to make himself a desk from a door for a while now and I came across THIS POST. Look at this work table - is it not the coolest thing ever?!!
First up, something crafty - a button bowl. How cool is this?...
You could use a balloon and white glue. We're all crafters of some sort here - most of us probably have buttons, right? Might even be fun to do with kids! Original post HERE.
Next up, something yummy...you can make it for Christmas...toffee!
I'm not a fan of hard candy - I don't like it getting stuck in your teeth and I always avoided it until a friend here in NH gave us some she had made for Christmas about 5 years ago. Hi Tami!!! Oh my goodness it was sooooo good! I have been a fan of homemade toffee ever since. THIS RECIPE looks delicious and best of all, easy!
I have one more thing to show you. My hubby has been wanting to make himself a desk from a door for a while now and I came across THIS POST. Look at this work table - is it not the coolest thing ever?!!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Craft Fair
Today was the day my girl had been waiting for - her school's craft fair. She had saved up and paid for her own table and helped me make the head bands and clips for sale. She is quite the expert at making yo-yos now!
Foot traffic was quite light and she didn't make her millions, but she did make enough to cover her expenses and a few dollars more, plus with all the leftovers, she will be the best accessorized kid around!
The best part of the day for me was catching up with one of the other vendors who happens to be a quilter that I know - Belth Helfter of EvaPaige Quilt Designs. She is a quilt designer/teacher and we had a good chat. It's such a small world!
Foot traffic was quite light and she didn't make her millions, but she did make enough to cover her expenses and a few dollars more, plus with all the leftovers, she will be the best accessorized kid around!
The best part of the day for me was catching up with one of the other vendors who happens to be a quilter that I know - Belth Helfter of EvaPaige Quilt Designs. She is a quilt designer/teacher and we had a good chat. It's such a small world!
Friday, December 2, 2011
Craft Fair Goodies
Tomorrow (Saturday) our school is having it's annual Holly Days Craft Fair. My girl Sofia is having a table all of her own to try and make a little money. We decided that hair accessories would be easy and fun for her to make. Of course I have done a lot of the work, but she has made some of the yo-yos, both cutting out the circles and sewing them, and she also did some of the attaching/gluing. We have a ton of headbands and sets of clips like these ones...
We both love everything we made and will actually be quite happy if there are lots left over so we can keep them - I'd even wear them!
We both love everything we made and will actually be quite happy if there are lots left over so we can keep them - I'd even wear them!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Stitched Registration
Today's the day you can officially REGISTER for the Stitched video workshops! I am in awe looking at the talent being offered and count myself very lucky to be among this group of ladies.
Have a look at the workshop projects on offer...
I will be teaching a Needleturn Applique class. See the tree with the purple polkadot background? That's what I'm teaching! Here's the little blurb I wrote about my class...
Needleturn Applique Mini Quilt
In this workshop you will learn not to only do, but how to enjoy applique! I will teach you my favorite technique, needleturn applique, and tips and tricks to make it easier than you think it is. We will make a modern shaped appliqued tree mini-quilt wall hanging. I will walk you step by step through the entire process, including choosing fabrics, transferring your pattern to your fabric, prepping your applique pieces, my needleturn applique technique, free-motion quilting, and binding. These are all things I wish I had known when I started, because had I known how fun and easy it could be, I wouldn't have been so scared to try!
When you register, you don't only get access to my class, but to ALL 20 classes, for just $89! When you think that you can pay that much for just one class at a shop, getting 20 classes is amazing. You also will have access to all the workshops from January 1st until June 1st and can choose which workshops you want to do in any order, at any time of the day or night.
All you need to do is
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER and you will be taken to the registration page. As a little added bonus, I will send the first 10 people who register using
the above link by December 15th, a little package of fabric and scraps from my stash to get you started on your project.
I'm excited!
Have a look at the workshop projects on offer...
I will be teaching a Needleturn Applique class. See the tree with the purple polkadot background? That's what I'm teaching! Here's the little blurb I wrote about my class...
In this workshop you will learn not to only do, but how to enjoy applique! I will teach you my favorite technique, needleturn applique, and tips and tricks to make it easier than you think it is. We will make a modern shaped appliqued tree mini-quilt wall hanging. I will walk you step by step through the entire process, including choosing fabrics, transferring your pattern to your fabric, prepping your applique pieces, my needleturn applique technique, free-motion quilting, and binding. These are all things I wish I had known when I started, because had I known how fun and easy it could be, I wouldn't have been so scared to try!
When you register, you don't only get access to my class, but to ALL 20 classes, for just $89! When you think that you can pay that much for just one class at a shop, getting 20 classes is amazing. You also will have access to all the workshops from January 1st until June 1st and can choose which workshops you want to do in any order, at any time of the day or night.
All you need to do is
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER and you will be taken to the registration page. As a little added bonus, I will send the first 10 people who register using
the above link by December 15th, a little package of fabric and scraps from my stash to get you started on your project.
I'm excited!
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